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- Leal Filho, Walter, et al.
(author)
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An assessment of attitudes towards plastics and bioplastics in Europe
- 2021
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In: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 755:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Over the last 50 years, conventional fossil-based plastics have become an integral part of our everyday lives. Apart from their low production costs, this is due to a number of their unique properties, including durability, strength, lightness, electrical and thermal insulation, resistance to chemicals and corrosion. The production of plastics has increased from 1.5 million metric tons in 1950 to 359 million metric tons in 2018. Of this total, 61.8 million metric tons were produced in Europe. There are various problems associated with plastic use and disposal that pose a serious threat to both the physical environment and human health. Since public behaviour plays a key role when it comes to the use of plastic, this paper reports on a study that focused on an assessment of attitudes towards plastics and bioplastics in Europe. The results showed that packaging is the most frequent modality of plastic used among participants. In addition, majority of participants are aware that plastic waste can affect environment and human health and therefore segregate and properly dispose plastics. Also, even though most respondents were aware of the environmental problems related to plastic use and showed a positive inclination towards using bioplastic materials, their limited availability and lack of relevant information about bioplastics pose a problem for wider use. Departing from the assumption that the public attitude is a determining factor in the consumption of plastics as a whole and bioplastics in particular, this paper also sheds some light on the current situation, identifying some trends and information gaps which should be addressed in order to encourage a more rational use of plastics in Europe.
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- Leal Filho, Walter, et al.
(author)
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An overview of the problems posed by plastic products and the role of extended producer responsibility in Europe
- 2019
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In: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : Elsevier. - 0959-6526 .- 1879-1786. ; 214, s. 550-558
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plastic products are easy and convenient for our everyday use, but their negative impacts on human health and the environment cannot be overlooked. The negative impacts and effects of plastic waste are now widely known and have been subject of much recent media coverage, both in Europe and on a global level. Faced with increasing amounts of plastic waste, the European Union as a whole and many European governments in particular, are currently revising the policy options available to cope with the problem. One of the tools which may be deployed with a view to reducing the pressures posed by plastic waste, is the Extended Producer Responsibility principle. It is considered to be one of the major waste management policy instruments that support the implementation of the European waste hierarchy. Its application may assist in fostering the collection and recycling of waste streams that contain plastic. This paper presents an overview of the problems posed by plastic waste, and outlines their environmental dimensions. It discusses the role of the Extended Producer Responsibility principle and provides some recommendations that may be useful in enhancing extended producer responsibility.
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- Omelyanchik, Alexander, et al.
(author)
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Boosting Magnetoelectric Effect in Polymer-Based Nanocomposites
- 2021
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In: Nanomaterials. - : MDPI. - 2079-4991. ; 11:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Polymer-based magnetoelectric composite materials have attracted a lot of attention due to their high potential in various types of applications as magnetic field sensors, energy harvesting, and biomedical devices. Current researches are focused on the increase in the efficiency of magnetoelectric transformation. In this work, a new strategy of arrangement of clusters of magnetic nanoparticles by an external magnetic field in PVDF and PFVD-TrFE matrixes is proposed to increase the voltage coefficient (alpha ME) of the magnetoelectric effect. Another strategy is the use of 3-component composites through the inclusion of piezoelectric BaTiO3 particles. Developed strategies allow us to increase the alpha ME value from similar to 5 mV/cm.Oe for the composite of randomly distributed CoFe2O4 nanoparticles in PVDF matrix to similar to 18.5 mV/cm.Oe for a composite of magnetic particles in PVDF-TrFE matrix with 5%wt of piezoelectric particles. The applicability of such materials as bioactive surface is demonstrated on neural crest stem cell cultures.
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- Zhdanov, V. S., et al.
(author)
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Monitoring of aortic and coronary atherosclerosis in native and non-native males of Yakutsk over 40 years
- 2007
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In: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1484 .- 0021-9150. ; 190:2, s. 338-342
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have analyzed the development of aortic and coronary atherosclerosis over 40 years in native and non-native males of Yakutsk by comparing the data obtained in 1963-1965, 1985-1987 and 2001-2003. The research was carried out in compliance with the WHO program for the atherosclerosis epidemiology studies using autopsy material. Subjects (361 natives and 692 non-natives) included in the research died of external causes at the age of 20-59 years and had no history of chronic diseases, which was confirmed by post-mortem examination. The prevalence and the extent of raised atherosclerotic lesions (fibrous plaques, complicated lesions and calcinosis) in the aorta and coronary arteries were determined by visual planimetry after staining with Sudan IV. An accelerated development of aortic and coronary atherosclerosis was revealed in both populations throughout the entire period of 40 years with more severe manifestations in non-native males. The severity of atherosclerosis increased considerably in native and non-native males a.-ed over 40 years. The rate of the increase in the extent of raised atherosclerotic lesions tended to be greater in native than in non-native males.
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